Method and system for controlling an operator interface with display fields containing graphics and text

ABSTRACT

A method and system for displaying an operator interface on a computer includes graphic elements with text portions. A language is selected by a user and the graphic elements are displayed with text portions in the selected language. The text portions in the selected language are provided by displaying pixels of the text from a text file with pixels of the corresponding graphic from a graphic image file.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a method for controlling an operatorinterface of a computer-controlled system, particularly of ahigh-performance printer, whereby a computer processes a control panelprogram, which defines an operator interface on a monitor, whereby aplurality of display fields are provided on the operator interface,which display fields respectively contain graphics elements and text.Further, the invention relates to a system for purposes of controllingsuch an operator interface.

DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART

In order to facilitate the operation of a computer-controlled system,for example of a high-performance printer, display fields, apart from anexplanatory symbol for a function, also contain an explanatory text.While the graphics in these display fields can be kept for countries ofdifferent language, it is expedient, for a better understanding, toprovide the text in the respective language. In the prior art, a bitmapis prepared for each display field, which bitmap defines pixelscorresponding to the display image to be displayed together with thetext and is stored upon request. When the computer-controlled system issold in many countries of world, an extremely great number of bitmapsmust be available, which contain the multilingual texts. Therefore,large memory requirements are necessary for such a solution. Anotherdisadvantage is that it takes relatively long for an image to be buildup within a display field given the currently normal relatively highpixel density, although the processors are fast, so that the userexperiences less comfort with respect to the menu prompting.

An image output device is known from “Patent Abstracts of Japan” withthe publication number JP 07164685 A, whereby bits of information aredisplayed on a LCD-display. Menu texts that are present in a pluralityof language versions are selected by means of a switching unit and aredisplayed on the display. The size of the display is adjusted dependenton the selected language.

“IMB Technical Disclosure Bulletin”, vol. 37, No. 065, June 1994, page461 through 463 discloses a method for controlling an operatorinterface, whereby an operator can select a language among texts in aplurality of languages after a system has been started. The selectedlanguage is displayed in a window, which displays further bits ofinformation about an application program.

Published International Patent Application WO 94/11804 A1 describes an“user interface”, which displays status information of a printer. Textsto be displayed are provided in files. A computer-supported sequenceraccesses these text files in order to display these.

German Patent Document DE 195 18 367 A1 describes a method for storingand playing back a supply of fixed screen texts. The operator can beguided by means of the screen texts in a plurality of languages. Textparts that are language-independent are combined with language-dependentvariable texts in order to be able to display a complete text on thescreen.

Further, Published International Application WO 94/27229 A1 describes anoperator interface, whereby text elements or graphic elements aresimultaneously displayed on a screen. Text parts and graphics parts canbe stored in different areas and are combined given the representationon the screen.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is based on the object of providing a method and asystem for controlling an operator interface, whereby the graphicselements and texts in different languages to be displayed in the displayfields are built up fast and whereby the memory requirements are low.

The present invention proposes a method for purposes of controlling anoperator interface of a computer-controlled system, whereby a computerprocesses a control panel program, which defines an operator interfaceon a screen, whereby a plurality of display fields are provided on theoperator interface, which respectively contain graphics elements andtext, whereby a graphics bitmap is stored for each display field, whichgraphics bitmap contains pixels corresponding to the graphics element tobe displayed; a plurality of language versions are stored in text filesfor the text of each display field; one single language is selected forthe texts of all display fields depending on an input instruction; thegraphics bitmap that belongs to every display field is loaded into themain memory of the computer; text files of the selected language areaccessed; and text pixels and pixels of the graphics bitmap arerepresented together given the display of the display field.

According to the invention, the pixels that are to be displayed in totalin the display field are divided. On one hand, the pixels are defined bymeans of a graphics bitmap that does not contain text pixels but onlygraphics elements. Other pixels that belong to the texts are generatedby means of the graphics controller to which the respective text issupplied. This text is stored in a plurality of languages in a pluralityof text files. When a specific language is now selected, the pixels ofthe graphics bitmap are displayed in the display field and the textpixels are added according to the selected text file. Therefore, merelyone graphics bitmap, whose pixels are combined with the pixels of theselected language of the text, must be provided for each display field.When the control panel program is activated and a language change ismade, merely a new text file with the corresponding language must beaccessed—the graphics bitmap can be kept. Thus, the image buildup for adisplay field is also accelerated, since merely the pixels of the textmust be combined with the already present pixels of the graphics bitmap.

In a preferred exemplary embodiment of the invention, the graphicsbitmaps are stored in a ROM-component. Given a call of a menu of theoperator interface, all graphics bitmaps of this menu are loaded intothe main memory and remain there as long as the display fields areneeded for the menu and for further menus. When the language is changed,loading processes are thus foregone for the graphics bitmaps and theimage buildup can be speeded up.

According to a further aspect of the invention, a system for purposes ofcontrolling an operator interface of a computer-controlled system isproposed, whose feature include a control panel program, which definesan operator interface on a screen, whereby a plurality of display fieldsare provided on the operator interface, which display fieldsrespectively contain graphics elements and text, a graphics bitmapstored for each display field, which graphics bitmap contains pixelscorresponding to the graphics element to be shown, a plurality oflanguage versions stored in text files for the text of each displayfield, one single language selected for the texts of all display fieldsdepending on the input instruction, the graphics bitmap that belongs toevery display field loaded into the main memory of the computer, andwhereby text files of the selected language are accessed and text pixelsand pixels of the graphics bitmap are represented together given thedisplay of the display field. The advantages that have already beendescribed in connection with the inventive method derive as a result ofthis system.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention is subsequently further explained upon reference to thedrawing.

FIG. 1 is a screen view of a traditional operator interface with textsin the English language,

FIG. 2 is a screen view of a similar operator interface, whereby thedisplay fields still contain texts in the English language, but thefurther texts are in the German language,

FIG. 3 is a diagram schematically showing the editing of text files andgraphics data, and

FIG. 4 is a pair of flowcharts for the program start of the controlpanel program and for the language changeover.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 schematically shows a screen 10, on which a control panel programgenerates an operator interface. The screen 10 is fashioned as TFT (thinfilm transistor) display, i.e. that it is a LCT) screen, whereby theindividual pixels are driven by means of vapor-deposited transparenthorizontal and vertical interconnects. The thin film transistors (TFT)that are additionally arranged for each pixel at the cross pointspurposefully switch-on and switch-off the electrical fields for thepolarisation of the anisotropic liquid. Optical highly qualitativeimages can be generated in this way.

Display fields 12 through 26 are present in a first row of the screen10, which display fields that contain a graphics element and text. Thescreen 10 is further fashioned as a sensor screen, i.e. thattouch-sensors are disposed under the display fields 12 through 26, whichtouch-sensors recognize the touching by means of a pen or a finger.Given operating of one of the display fields 12 through 26, the controlpanel program branches into a corresponding menu, in which the operatorcan input different parameters, in which bits of information aredisplayed (in display field 24) or via which the computer-controlledsystem—a high-performance printer in the present case—can be switched inthe off-state (in display field 26). The display fields 12 through 26contain symbols as graphics elements, which symbols indicate thefunction of the menu called by the control panel program.

Rectangular displays 28, 30 and 32, which exclusively contain texts, areprovided below the display fields 12 through 26. Further, a text field34 is displayed, which indicates the status of the high-performanceprinter. A parameter field 36, which shows operating parameters, isprovided in the lower image part of the screen 10. As can be seen fromFIG. 1, all texts that are shown at the screen are in English. However,it is desirable that the texts to be displayed are in the language ofthe location depending on the location where the high-performanceprinter is installed.

FIG. 2 shows a version of the operator interface, whereby the texts aredisplayed in German in the sections 28 through 36. Such a representationis relatively simple to manage, since the display of texts can bemanaged relatively fast with the aid of the graphics controller, wherebycorresponding text files are accessed. However, it can be recognizedthat the text elements in the display fields 12 through 26 are still inthe English language, since it is relatively difficult to only modifythe text portion in images with graphics elements. Given a displayaccording to FIG. 2, the operator may not be comfortable with thedisplay, since he must read the menu in two languages.

In the left image part, FIG. 3 shows the editing of text files withdifferent languages. Each text file with identical bits of information,for example with the term “paper” receives the same access number, 302for example. When the operator selects a language, for example Englishor German, the text file of the same number—the number 302 in thepresent case—is accessed and this text is represented in the displayfield together with the graphics. It can be recognized in the rightimage part that the text “paper” is faded-in from the corresponding textfile with the number 302 with respect to the graphics part, which showsa paper web given the selected language English. The display field withthe language German can be seen therebelow. The text file with thenumber 302 is also accessed. As a result of the fixed language German,the term “Papier” is now displayed on the display field. It is to benoted that the graphics part need not be reloaded but remains unchanged.Merely the respective text in the chosen language is faded-in.

FIG. 4 shows flowcharts given the program start and given a change ofthe language. According to strep 40, the texts are initially loaded intothe main memory corresponding to the selected language 1. Subsequently,the graphics bitmaps for the different display fields are loaded (step42) and all display fields are displayed on the screen (step 44), i.e.that texts and graphics bitmaps are superimposed and are representedtogether.

The right image part shows process steps 50 through 54, as they areapplied when the language is changed. For example, it is changed fromthe language 1 to the language 2 in the step 50. This changing ensues bymeans of inputs of the user after the application menu has been called,i.e. that an application menu is called after the display field 22 hasbeen touched and the application menu is branched into a languagechangeover menu from there. According to step 52, the texts of the newlyselected language stored in the text files are loaded into the mainmemory. After these texts have been transformed into pixels by means ofthe graphics controller, they are displayed together with the graphicsbitmaps, which were still kept in the main memory, whereby the windowingtechnique is applied for the representation in general.

Although other modifications and changes may be suggested by thoseskilled in the art, it is the intention of the inventors to embodywithin the patent warranted hereon all changes and modifications asreasonably and properly come within the scope of their contribution tothe art.

1. A method for controlling an operator interface of acomputer-controlled printing system, comprising the steps of: processinga control panel program by a computer, said control panel programdefining the operator interface for a printer on a screen; providing aplurality of display fields displayed simultaneously on the operatorinterface, said plurality of display fields including display fieldscontaining both graphics elements and text displayed together in each ofsaid display fields, each of said graphics elements corresponding to aprinter function, said text that is displayed with corresponding ones ofsaid graphics elements corresponding to the same printer functions assaid graphic elements; storing graphics files which contain pixelscorresponding to the graphics element to be represented for each of saiddisplay fields containing both graphics elements and text, said graphicsfiles including only one instance of each different graphics element;storing a plurality of language versions in text files for the text ofeach of said display fields containing both graphics elements and text,said text that is to be displayed with corresponding ones of saidgraphics elements including multiple instances of the text associatedwith each graphics element wherein each instance of the text is in adifferent language, said text files being stored separated from saidgraphics files; selecting one single language from said plurality oflanguage versions for the texts of all of said display fields containingboth graphics elements and text depending on an input instruction;loading the graphics files that belong to every one of said displayfields containing both graphics elements and text that are displayedsimultaneously into a main memory of the computer; accessing text filesof the language selected in said selecting step to retrieve text of theselected one of said plurality of language versions; and simultaneouslydisplaying the display fields containing both graphics elements and textby representing text pixels of the text files of the selected languagetogether with the pixels of the corresponding graphics files for eachdisplay field, both said graphics elements and said text of each displayfield relating to corresponding function.
 2. A method according to claim1, further comprising the steps of: storing the graphics files in a ROMcomponent, and when a menu of the operator interface is called, loadingall graphics files of the called menu into the main memory and retainingthe graphics files in the main memory as long as the display fields arerequired for the menu and for further menus.
 3. A method according toclaim 1, further comprising the steps of: utilizing a sensor screen as ascreen, and branching the control panel program into an input menu whenone of the display fields is touched, the input menu accepting userinputs bits of information.
 4. A method according to claim 3, furthercomprising the steps of: proceeding from an initial menu, calling anapplication-submenu by operating a display field, selecting the languagein the application-submenu.
 5. A method according to claim 1, furthercomprising the steps of: reading out the new text from an appertainingtext file, and displaying the text that was read out instead of aprevious text without changing the graphics files of an appertainingdisplay field given a change of the language.
 6. A method as claimed inclaim 1, wherein said printer is a high-performance printer.
 7. A systemfor controlling an operator interface of a computer-controlled printingsystem having a screen and a main memory, comprising: a control panelprogram which defines the operator interface for a printer on thescreen; a plurality of display fields simultaneously on the operatorinterface, said display fields containing both graphics elements andtext displayed together in each said display field, said display fieldscorresponding to functions on said operator interface, each of saidgraphics elements corresponding to a printer function, said text that isdisplayed with corresponding ones of said graphics elementscorresponding to the same printer functions as said graphics elements; agraphics file for ones of said display fields, said graphics filecontaining pixels corresponding to the graphics element to be shown ineach said display field, only one graphics file for each said displayfield, said graphics files being associated with the functions of thecorresponding display fields; a plurality of language versions stored intext files for the text of each said display field, a plurality of textsbeing provided for each of the functions of the corresponding displayfields, said text files being stored separated from said graphics files;an input that is operable for receiving an input instruction to selectone language for the texts of all display fields from said plurality oflanguage versions; the graphics file that belongs to every said displayfield being loaded into the main memory, each of said graphics filesrelating to the function of said corresponding display field; and textfiles of the selected language being accessed and text pixels of theselected language and pixels of corresponding ones of the graphics filesbeing represented together in said display fields given the display ofthe display fields, said text describing the function of thecorresponding display field in the selected language.
 8. A systemaccording to claim 7, further comprising: a ROM component in which thegraphics files are stored and the main memory loading and retaining thegraphics files of the a menu as long as the display fields are requiredfor the menu and for further menus given a call of a menu of theoperator interface.
 9. A system according to claim 7, furthercomprising: a sensor screen as a screen, and the control panel programbranching into an input menu, said input menu accepting user inputsinformation when one of the display fields is touched.
 10. A systemaccording to claim 9, further comprising: an output menu leading to anapplication-submenu called by operating a display field in which thelanguage is selected.
 11. A system according to claim 7, furthercomprising: a graphics file displayed with new text read out from anappertaining text file and displayed instead of a previous text withoutchanging the graphics file of an appertaining display field given achange of the language.
 12. A system as claimed in claim 6, wherein saidprinter is a high-performance printer.